In the months of September and October 2024 in cellars throughout Italy.
It’s time to celebrate the arrival of autumn by discovering all the secrets of the grape harvest, walking among the rows and tasting the typical products of each region together with the producers of the Movimento Turismo del Vino . The Italian association that includes more than 700 member wineries is ready to welcome wine tourists on the occasion of one of the most popular events among enthusiasts.
From the summer heat of starry nights to the sweet colors of the autumn vineyard… and it’s a party!
Cantine Aperte in Vendemmia is upon us and marks the magnificent transition of the seasons that bid farewell to the sunny summer and lead to the magnificent autumn colours and harvest celebrations.
The unmissable event created by the Movimento Turismo del Vino, which every year involves thousands of wine tourists and producers in the largest grape harvest festival in Italy, is coming with a calendar of authentic experiences. Throughout the months of September and October, the joy of the grape harvest will be celebrated together with the producers of the MTV, sharing a good glass of wine and tasty snacks among the rows.
The snack, a tasty break to be consumed among the rows, which gives joy and taste!
Sharing a snack with genuine products, in the open air and accompanied by the stories of the local winemakers and farmers, gives enthusiasts from all over Italy the chance to live a unique experience in the name of conviviality and fun in the open air .
“ La Merenda in Vendemmia ” – underlines Violante Gardini Cinelli Colombini, president of the Movimento Turismo del Vino – is in fact the theme of this 2024 edition. A unique opportunity to enhance and publicize the rich and varied food and wine heritage of all of Italy. For Cantine Aperte in Vendemmia, visitors to the wineries that are members of the Movimento Turismo del Vino will also discover how to understand if the grapes are ready for the harvest and how the winery transforms the grapes into wine, becoming “winemakers for a day ”.
The protagonists are not only the great wines and the best vintages but also the Dop, Igp products and the traditional specialties for a calendar of tasting itineraries in the MTV cellars that tell the best of the food and wine of each territory.
The snack during the grape harvest in Italy varies from region to region, reflecting the local gastronomic richness. Here is a brief excursus:
In Friuli , salami and homemade bread are the protagonists, accompanied by cheeses such as Montasio and omelettes with wild herbs, all washed down with wine.
In Trentino , the snack is sweet mid-morning, while the “regalia” at the end of the grape harvest is celebrated with potato cake, cured meats, cheeses and beans with onions.
In Emilia Romagna , you can enjoy crescentine with mortadella or salami felino, piadina romagnola with squacquerone and ham, or pinza with mustard.
In Tuscany , “bread, butter and wine” is a classic, but today the “schiacciata all’uva” or bread with grape jam is preferred. The traditional sandwich with Tuscan ham is also not missing.
In Abruzzo , people eat bread with Ventricina, a typical spiced salami, accompanied by homemade bread.
In Umbria , the torta al testo, a low focaccia filled with sausage, grilled vegetables or pork cracklings.
In Southern Italy , “pane e pomodoro” is a classic, with variations such as panzanella, also prepared in autumn. There is no shortage of omelettes with seasonal herbs, which, however, we find a bit throughout Italy.
In Basilicata , the protagonists are the cruschi peppers, sweet peppers dried and fried until they become crunchy. They are often accompanied by homemade bread.
In Sicily , “pane cunzatu” is seasoned with fresh tomatoes, anchovies, olive oil, oregano and caciocavallo or pecorino cheese.
In Sardinia , Pane Guttiau, a variant of carasau, seasoned with oil and salt, is ideal for a break during the grape harvest.
This 2024 edition is truly designed for everyone…
Families with children and teenagers, young people, curious wine tourists, experts and enthusiasts of local food and wine. An exclusive and inclusive experience for everyone : the grape harvest is in fact the most important moment of the whole year and does not end with the grape harvest; even the subsequent phases (fermentation, decanting and tasting of wine at different times) can offer educational experiences. All always supported by the concept of conscious drinking, which promotes wine as a product to be tasted with moderation and attention to quality.
Learning while having fun and tasting 360°
Two months dedicated to good food and good wine, with the most popular initiatives of every MTV event: from the producers’ stories about the grape harvest and local traditions, to walks in the vineyard, guided tours of the cellar, educational grape harvest workshops and painting workshops using the natural components of the grape, from the leaves to the berries. And also music, folk dances, treasure hunts and riddles to learn more about the practices and curiosities related to the grape harvest.
There is no shortage of excitement in becoming “winemakers for a day” by following the instructions dictated by the “tourist grape harvest” regulations.